Shaver, F. A., Arthur P. Rose, R. F. Steele, and A. E. Adams, compilers.  "An
Illustrated History of Central Oregon." ("Embracing Wasco, Sherman, Gilliam,
Wheeler, Crook, Lake, & Klamath Counties")  Spokane, WA: Western Historical
Publishing Co., 1905.  p. 624.

JAMES McLELLAN JOHNS

     the editor of the Arlington Record, is a leading man in Gilliam county. His
paper is a bright and newsy sheet, bearing the marks of ability and devotion to
his county and principles while it has won its way into the hearts of the people
and has placed its editor in an influential and enviable position. In addition
to handling his paper, Mr. Johns gives attention to the practice of law, and is
a successful pleader at the bar. He is a man of keen perception and not slow to
take advantage of the weight of reason and right and in all his ways so conducts
himself that he is highly respected and esteemed.
     James McLellan Johns was born in Wayne county, Ohio, on August 9, 1834. His
parents were Jacob and Sarah (Adams) Johns. The former was born in Pennsylvania
on July 4, 1808, and was descended from Welsh ancestry that came to the colonies
with William Penn. He was a strict adherent of the Quaker church. The mother of
our subject was a cousin of the noted John Quincy Adams. Her father, James
Adams, was a brother of President John Adams, so Mrs. Johns' uncle and cousins
were both presidents of the United States. James Adams was a stanch Presbyterian
minister. He married Miss Margaret McClellan, an aunt of General George B.
McClellan. Thus it is seen that Mr. Johns comes from strong and prominent
families on both sides of the house, and he has so kept the family name in his
career that untarnished he will hand it to his descendants. James M. was
educated in public and private schools in Ohio, and in 1853 he went with his
parents to Indiana. The next year we find him in Kansas, where he taught school.
Later he journeyed to Jackson county, Missouri, continuing in the work of the
educator. There, in 1856, he was married to Miss Elizabeth Darby, a native of
Kentucky. Two years later they came to Marion county, Oregon, via the isthmus
and there Mr. Johns took up teaching again. After a while he started in the
mercantile business at Scio, Linn county. Later he went to Marion, Oregon, and
erected a large grain warehouse. This was the first warehouse in the Willamette
valley, and Mr. Johns assisted to purchase the first ship cargo of wheat that
was shipped from Portland to Liverpool, England. While residing in the
Willamette valley Mr. Johns educated his children at the Willamette University,
and in 1884 he came thence to Gilliam county. He took government land and
engaged in farming until 1890. In that year his wife was called away by death
and the farm did not appeal any more to Mr. Johns as a home, and accordingly he
removed to Arlington and took up the practice of law, which he had been
perfecting himself in for some years previous, and also began editing the
journal where he is still writing. In politics, Mr. Johns is a stanch Republican
and a regular wheel horse in the campaigns. He is well informed in political
lore, is abreast of the questions and issues of the day, is a good orator, and
wields a ready pen. For two years here he has been postmaster. Fraternally, Mr.
Johns is a member of the A. F. & A. M.
     In 1893, Mr. Johns contracted a second marriage, Mrs. Margaret Biggs, nee
Baldwin, becoming his wife. They were young folks together in Indiana. Mrs.
Johns has one son by her former marriage, George Biggs, a leading merchant in
Arlington.  By his first marriage Mr. Johns has the following named children:
Charles A., a leading attorney in Baker City, Oregon; Cato J., a prominent
merchant in Sumpter, Oregon; Mrs. Viola McKinney, in this county; Mrs. Dorcas
Neal, in Harney county Oregon; and Mrs. Ada Ralston, in Portland. Mr. and Mrs.
Johns are well respected people, hold a prominent position in society and are
valued citizens of our county. They are both members of the Methodist church.


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Submitted to the Oregon Bios. Project in January 2011 by Diana Smith.  Submitter
has no additional information about the person(s) or family mentioned above.